DAP Secretary-General Anthony Loke on July 13 issued a statement clarifying that the recent remarks made by party treasurer and Beruas MP Ngeh Koo Ham regarding the Teoh Beng Hock case do not represent the official stance of the Democratic Action Party.
“The party has never blamed any member of Teoh’s family. We fully respect their feelings, their right to speak out, and their criticisms,” Loke said.
He added that Teoh Beng Hock died while serving the party under political persecution, and the party can never return a son to the family. “This is indeed DAP’s debt to the Teoh family.”
“If Ngeh Koo Ham’s comments have caused hurt to the Teoh family, I sincerely apologize on behalf of DAP,” Loke added.
His response came after Ngeh stated during a speech in Manjung on July 12 that Teoh’s sister, Teoh Lee Lan, should not attack DAP if she could not appreciate the party’s efforts.
Ngeh said the party helped raise RM500,000 for the Teoh family, provided pro bono legal aid, pushed for a royal commission of inquiry, and urged the Human Rights Commission to investigate. Although no perpetrator was found, the family eventually received RM600,000 in compensation through a civil suit.
“I am not criticizing the Teoh family, but rather I want to remind our community to defend correct values and not allow the phenomenon of ‘good intentions being punished’ to become widespread,” Ngeh said.
